Hit jumps and shortcuts, lay low or shake off the cops in surroundings that play to your car's unique strengths.

Pick a ride, hook up with friends and jump into a non-stop playlist of tight, competitive events.

Earn Need for Speed points at all times as you try to outdrive your friends and become the Most Wanted.

The race is on

Thrill-seekers looking for a dose of high-octane racing on PlayStation 3 look no further - Need for Speed Most Wanted straps you into the driving seat of some of the world's most powerful cars. And you'll get to drive them all in the beautiful Fairhaven, a city full of revving racers just dying to show you how dangerous this urban wonderland can be.

Full of open roads, winding highways, parks and mysterious districts, Fairhaven is the perfect setting for high-octane races. The exhilarating sense of speed has you strongly clutching the wireless controller as you zip through flashing tunnels, scream over massive ramps and smash through road signs to get to your destination. And as day drifts into sunset before the neon glow of night-time glistens over the city, you'll take in spectacular sights while you do battle on the roads.

Don't be surprised to hear the howl of police sirens on your tail, along with the crackle of their scanner radios squawking out your activities. Turn up your car's radio to drown them out with a mixture of rock, indie, drum and bass, grime and dance to keep your pedal foot tapping.

Less haste, more speed

Speed demons and petrolheads rejoice - Need for Speed Most Wanted has everything you'd ever want in the supercharged world of video game street racing. Over 40 cars await you, from durable Range Rovers to lightning fast Porsches, and you can drive them all... if you can hold your nerve.

Buckled up in the seat of your chosen vehicle, your task is to take part in electrifying street races to build up your Speed Points. These can be anything from speeding around a city circuit, to avoiding an ambush of police cars looking to put a quick end to your full throttle exploration of Fairhaven. It's not just Speed Points that are up for grabs, either. Victory earns you mods such as nitro boosts and better car parts for an instant upgrade.

When you've driven up your Speed Points to a healthy total, you'll be able to challenge one of the ten most wanted street racers in Fairhaven. These clashes are not for the faint-hearted and the police are itching to bust you, so put your foot down and don't be afraid to cut corners across pavements, blast past speed cameras and smash through billboards to win. Stay ahead of the competition by ramming any vehicles which get in your way, and listen to the police radio to work out where forthcoming roadblocks are.

Become the most wanted among your friends

Need for Speed Most Wanted on PS3 gives you the chance to jump into the sleek interior of exotic cars such as the 918 Spyder, Evo X and V12 Vantage, and then beat your mates in the ultimate street race. Who'd pass up that sort of opportunity?

Electronic Arts' thrill-a-minute racer keeps track of everything you do via its Autolog feature. As you screech around the streets of Fairhaven, all your record times, run-ins with the cops, jump distances and other details are recorded. This data is fired over to your PlayStation Network friends so they know what scores they have to beat, creating instant challenges while you play.

So while you're discovering new cars in the city, each with their own set of contests, the competition between you and your mates is constantly heating up. Once you're ready to go head-to-head, get online via PlayStation Network and drive to a Meet Up point in the city. There you can compete against up to seven players in numerous modes such as Speed Tests, where you have 90 seconds to get a high score in a selected area.

Multiplayer racing in Need for Speed Most Wanted is competitive and fast. There's nothing like the screen-rattling rumble of your car's engine as you blaze past a rival in a heated race. There's always a fresh challenge on the horizon in Need for Speed Most Wanted - don't let your mates leave you in the dust.